Diversification and sustainability to the fore in Co. Cork

Crowned the Diversification category winner of the Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards 2025, Emer O’Keeffe is an organic sheep and beef farmer from Co. Cork, who farms in partnership with husband James Leahy.

The farm comprises of 35ha of grassland and 8ha of forestry, with a low stocking rate of 0.58 LU/ha. Fully organic, it has eliminated chemical nitrogen and uses 100% LESS slurry spreading, with a 20 m buffer from water bodies followed. Over 50% of grassland has been reseeded with mixed-species clover to enhance nitrogen fixation.

Livestock includes EasyCare sheep and Dexter cattle, suited to wet conditions, with performance recorded rams, 24 months age at first lambing, 1.6 lambs per ewe per year, and beef output of 100 kg/ha. Heifers calve at 22–26 months, and calves per cow per year average 0.83. Carbon footprint is 10.59 kg CO₂_e/kg live weight.

For key insights on Emer O’Keeffe’s farming system, watch the video below:

Biodiversity initiatives include 200 m of new whitethorn and blackthorn hedging, 300 native hazel, 250 commercial hazel, and 20 native apple trees. Furze is selectively cut, and most hedges are managed by grazing, improving both hedge and animal health.

Diversification and sustainability measures include organic conversion, mixed-species reseeding, tree planting, and a hazelnut plantation for alternative income. Worm-resistant breeding has reduced blanket deworming, lowering veterinary costs. The farm markets lamb and beef directly, enhancing profitability and sustainability. The plan is to market the hazelnuts, processing and selling them locally.

Diversification

Emer O’Keeffe has diversified their farming system to make it more sustainable for their farm and also to make a contribution to the local community. They have achieved this by:

The farm was converted to organic production three years ago.
Diversifying into organic production has allowed the reduction of input costs but also to take advantage of the Organic Farming Scheme available to livestock producers. One of the targets in the Irish Climate Action Plan is to increase the number of farms in organic production.
There has been an emphasis on building infrastructure on the farm (fencing, roadways and housing) as well as a reseeding programme based in incorporating multispecies and clover.
Emer and James have switched some of their land from livestock production to hazelnut production. They have invested in a hazelnut plantation with 250 commercial varieties of hazelnut. They aim to direct sell hazelnuts locally. Hazelnut production in Ireland is a growing but small-scale sector, moving from traditional foraging to commercial potential.
They are direct selling lamb and beef produced on the farm. They aim to reduce the food miles of their produce by using a local butcher and supplying customers in the local community.
The farm features very well-maintained hedges, demonstrates a great interest and appreciation in and knowledge of on-farm biodiversity, with a proactive attitude toward enhancing habitats. They avoid the use of synthetic sprays, fertilisers, and rodenticides, using alternative, biodiversity-friendly methods.

Find out more about the Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards here.

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